Yes it can, I have a flash card reader running off of the keyboard. I also run a zip drive off of the keyboard, but it has its own power supply.
Can the kb be used as a hub for lower-powered peripherals?
Yes, low power being the operative word. Obviously, you scanner does not fall under the low-power
category (such large items rarely do) or else you wouldn't be receiving the low power warnings.
You are either going to have to plug the scanner directly into a USB port or you'll need to acquire a SELF
POWERED (read; has it's own power cord) hub in order to use this device.
The term is Powered Hub, Self Powered tends to refer to a Bus Powered hub.
Isn't a hub just a line-splitter? If so, surely it wouldn't need to be powered to run a USB-bus-powered scanner? (haven't tried it yet).
A USB hub is more than just a line splitter. For one thing USB is intelligent about power management. It can interrogate each device for how much power is needed and it knows how much is available either directly from the computer's port or from Powered Hubs. Each USB can supply a maximum of 500mA current. It may be less such as in the case of a Bus Powered hub.
A USB powered scanner is likely going to require the full current. 500mA at 5V is only 2.5W which is about what a small sized flashlight bulb uses. A scanner is going to need every bit of that 2.5W. That means it needs a port off the computer or a Powered Hub.
One of the problems with USB is that some devices which only need say, 50mA, still report their requirement as 500mA. I'm pretty sure this is downright lazy programmers who don't change the default value of 500mA set up in the software that USB hardware developers provide. It means these devices can't be used with Bus Powered Hubs.
--
Clark Martin
Redwood City, CA, USA
Macintosh / Internet Consulting
"I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"
-- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and...
Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! |
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
